Ten days after his mother, Holly, passed away in 2019, Clay Stevenson stepped onto the ice for the Coquitlam Express in the BC Hockey League. Strapping on his goalie gear for the first time since her passing, he faced the Surrey Eagles and stopped all 39 shots, securing a 3-0 shutout. That moment, raw and resolute, wasn’t just a win, Stevenson said it propelled him to the best season of his career. Fast forward to April 17, 2025, and that same resilience carried the 26-year-old goaltender into his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals vs the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Though the Capitals fell 5-2 to the Penguins, Stevenson’s performance was steady, stopping 33 of 38 shots against stars like Sidney Crosby. Yet, the night’s deeper meaning lay in Stevenson’s words postgame: “My mom passed in 2019, and you know she was a big driver for my hockey career. I could just kind of feel her out there. That was really special for me, and I just felt really proud to be in this spot, you know, that was the dream since we’re really young.”
Clay Stevenson was also emotional postgame as he said it was special to live out his dream for his mother, Holly, who died in 2019 by suicide.
“She was a big driver for my hockey career. I could just kind of feel her out there. That was really special for me…
— Sammi Silber (@sammisilber) April 18, 2025
The Washington Capitals’ playoff run was brief, swept in four games by the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers. Yet, the 2024-25 season was a testament to a team in transition, moving from the ageing core of the 2018 Stanley Cup champions to a hungry group of young players like Stevenson. Many who started the season in Washington were gone by its end, while young talents emerged as bona fide NHL players. For Stevenson, his debut was a tribute to Holly’s belief in him.
Stevenson was the 16th former ECHL player to debut in the NHL during the 2024-25 season. He excelled with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, achieving an 18-8-4 record, as confirmed by Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery. His standout season included guiding the Bears to a Calder Cup victory and earning accolades as part of the AHL’s best goaltending duo, alongside setting a franchise record with seven shutouts in 2023-24 and co-winning the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award. His debut in Pittsburgh, the Capitals’ final regular-season game, marked the realisation of a childhood dream.
Stevenson’s experience and accomplishments in the AHL position him as a promising asset for the Capitals. His debut in Pittsburgh, the Capitals’ final regular-season game, marked the realisation of a childhood dream for him.
Clay Stevenson shines in Washington Capitals debut with his performance vs Penguins
In a challenging end to the Washington Capitals’ 2024-25 season, Clay Stevenson made his NHL debut at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday. Despite a 5-2 loss to the Penguins, Stevenson’s performance was a bright spot in a game where the Capitals faced significant adversity.
The Capitals entered without three of their top six defensemen—John Carlson, Martin Fehervary, and Matt Roy—leaving them with an unfortunate lineup of 13 forwards and only five defensemen. Salary cap constraints prevented Washington from calling up a replacement from their AHL affiliate in Hershey, putting Stevenson in a tough spot as he faced Pittsburgh’s star-studded lineup, including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Stevenson stopped 33 of 38 shots, but his performance was far more impressive than the numbers suggest. Pittsburgh tested him early, firing 13 shots in the first period alone. Stevenson made a highlight-worthy sliding save on Crosby and consistently denied high-danger chances from the slot and in close, keeping the Capitals competitive despite their inability to sustain offensive pressure or establish a consistent forecheck. “I guess that shows you what the NHL is, right?” Stevenson remarked post-game, reflecting on the intensity of his debut. “It’s incredible; this is a dream come true to me. And win or lose, these guys made it a really special night for me.” he further added.
While the Capitals couldn’t overcome their shorthanded roster and fell to a Penguins’ team with their top players buzzing, Stevenson showcased his potential as a future asset. His ability to make critical saves against some of the league’s best players marked a memorable debut, offering a silver lining to Washington’s season-ending defeat.
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